Obituary: Mildred Irene Austermiller

Thursday

Nov 1, 2012 at 11:00 AM

Mildred Irene Austermiller of Kidron Bethel, North Newton, died on Oct. 30, 2012. She was born on July 3, 1922, in Reno County, the daughter of Carl and Martha (Unruh) Voran. She had a happy childhood on the farm. She walked to the country schoolhouse down the road with her siblings, where she learned to speak English. She attended Castleton High School. She accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized. She spent her early marriage years in Great Bend, Dodge City and Hutchinson, before moving to Topeka. They found their church home with West Side Baptist Church, where they were actively involved for 30 years. She was a member of the American Baptist Women’s Ministries and belonged to the White Cross and Bible-In-Action Circles and was also a member of the Friendship Class. She loved to teach children about Jesus. She loved her Lord and served Him faithfully. She belonged to the Sunflower Club of Topeka. Millie enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, poetry and playing table games, especially dominoes, with friends. She became an avid walker. She loved the KU Jayhawks and watched them whenever she could! Mildred worked at Dillons, Cessna (during the war) and Krause Plow in Hutchinson. After moving to Topeka, she worked for many years and retired from the Topeka-Shawnee Co. Health Center. She also managed an apartment close to the State Capital and several congressmen lived in those apartments. After retiring, she moved to Kidron Bethel Village of North Newton in 2003. She was married to John J. Austermiller, who passed away in 1989. Also preceding her in death were her parents, Carl and Martha Voran; sisters, Helen (Doc) Mitchell and Mary (Lee) Hayes; and son-in- law, Harv Hiner. She leaves one daughter, Sandra Kay Hiner of Augusta; sister, Betty (George W.) Engle of Pineville, Mo.; brother, the Rev. Peter (Lois) Voran of North Newton; niece and care-giver, Debra (Allen) Graber; grandchildren, Christie L. LaMastres, David H. (Deb) Madden, Richard L. May, Tina L. (Greg) Herrell, and Donna L. (George) May-Murray; 17 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be at Kidron Bethel in North Newton on Saturday, Nov. 3, at 2 p.m. Memorial gifts may be directed to RBC Ministries, publisher of Our Daily Bread, in care of Broadway Colonial Funeral Home. Please no flowers. Private inurnment at Fairlawn Cemetery, Hutchinson.